For all the Astros fans eager to see what Troy Patton can do, the lefthanded pitching phenom out of Tomball High has received an invitation to major-league camp. Outfielder Hunter Pence, the Astros’ top minor-league position player, also received an invitation to camp. Patton, a ninth-round pick in the 2004 June draft, could not hide […]
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Just when you thought the Astros were finished in the free agent market place, we learn that Tim Purpura is “flirting” with another pitcher — another middle-of-the-road pitcher. Steve Trachsel went 15-8 last season with the New York Mets, but the fact that he’s still available just days before spring training kicks off has to […]
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Picture Phil Garner sitting in his easy chair with wadded up pieces of paper all over the floor. If he can have fun playing with lineups, why not the fans? So, let’s continue the lineup discussion, with a twist. Most of your lineups in the previous thread assume Morgan Ensberg is in an Astros’ uniform […]
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Spring training starts in about two weeks! We’re one football game away from exchanging pigskins and yard-markers for stitched balls and baselines. By the way, yes, why not leave your Super Bowl prediction while you’re here? Mine: Indy 27, Chicago 21. I must admit that it makes me a bit nervous to know that virtually […]
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Audio: Jose de Jesus Ortiz talks to Jeff Bagwell about his role in Astros’ camp Audio: GM Tim Purpura on Jeff Bagwell day in Houston • • • Like his parents, Robert and Janice, Jeff Bagwell was saddened when the Boston Red Sox traded him to the Astros on Aug. 31, 1990. Born in Boston […]
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If you want to look at the glass half empty, the Astros’ rotation has four question marks. We’ve dissected Jason Jennings every which way, Woody Williams is 40 and the fourth and fifth spots are anybody’s guess at this point with as many as seven players in the mix. But by comparison to the beginning […]
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Audio: Listen to Jesus Ortiz’s conversation with Lance Berkman. Taking advantage of the platform he has as a star athlete, Lance Berkman is committed to helping young men make better decisions. For that reason, he has committed to lead about 200 area high school male athletes in a bible study for six consecutive Thursday nights […]
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If we lived in a perfect world . . . • The Astros would be a playoff team year in and year out. Still, I’m happy with the last decade. Over that time, the Astros have had only one losing season. In fact, there’s been only one sub-.500 season (2000) since 1992. Not a bad […]
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Each year, the Astros and teams throughout the majors go on their winter caravan to build excitement for the upcoming season. The caravan is in full swing. Watching the smiles on kids’ faces is usually the best part of the caravan, and there are plenty of smiles this morning at La Porte’s Rizzuto Elementary School. […]
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